C12 How Is Your Relationship with Prince Shen?

Juno harbored complex feelings toward the Fowler family, tinged with a deep-seated loathing. To the outside world, her existence was a source of shame for the Fowlers, yet nobody knew she was merely their facade of respectability.

Imagining a relationship with her father was something Juno found difficult, and she neither wanted nor dared to entertain such thoughts. She once believed Benjamin was her only blood relative in this world, but the moment she was cast out as the illegitimate daughter to shield the family, she became nothing more than a pawn in his game.

At the age of five, Juno's mother passed away from severe hemorrhaging during the birth of her second child. Less than six months later, Benjamin ostentatiously married the daughter from the Green family and brought home a boy barely two years Juno's junior.

Initially, Ondine treated her reasonably well, maintaining at least a façade of stepmotherly affection. But as time wore on, that pretense of kindness gradually dissipated. Everyone in Galvorn knew that Mrs. Fowler had tolerated Mr. Fowler's extramarital child, and once that reputation solidified and became widely recognized, the façade inevitably crumbled.

"You finally made it to school. Your good-for-nothing brother must have called the counselor countless times. Lucky for you, we said you were under the weather and resting in the dorm, or he would have stirred up more trouble," Lilwen remarked, eyeing Juno's pallor. After pouring a cup of hot water and sliding it across the table, she added, "You've already secured a scholarship to study abroad. There's no point in getting entangled with people like him. Better to make a clean break."

Juno could only offer a wry smile in response, taking a sip of the hot water and feeling the warmth spread through her. She had heard similar advice many times and understood the wisdom in Lilwen's words, but putting it into practice was easier said than done.

"Tomorrow night, you're sharing the stage with our school's heartthrob, Thayer. Anyone would think you two have some serious bad blood, judging by your expression," Lilwen chattered on, seizing any chance for gossip as she sat beside Juno. "How are things going with Thayer? Didn't he ask you to dance at the last school ball, right in front of everyone? Su Jieqing's nose was so out of joint, it was practically sideways with envy!"

Whenever Thayer's name came up, Juno instinctively tightened her grip on her cup. "Just like that."

She wasn't sure if it was due to her heightened anxiety and sensitivity, but just hearing that surname was enough to make her tense up without thinking.

"Remember, you owe me one."

That phrase echoed in her head like a haunting refrain, causing Juno's complexion to visibly pale.

Lilwen's words began to sound distant and muffled, as if the only thing that mattered was the terror that the man lurking in the shadows instilled in her.

He was like a demon, capable of pulling her into a mire with the slightest tug, from which she could not escape.

Juno stood up abruptly, her breathing quickened.

Lilwen ceased speaking and looked at her with concern. "Juno, what's the matter?"

At that moment, a phone call brought Juno back to reality. She glanced at the caller ID, her lips pressed tightly together, and managed a weak smile. "It's nothing. I need to step out to take a call."

She then hurried out of the dorm room as if escaping, her hand shaking as it clutched the phone.

Taking a deep breath, Juno said, "Dad..."

"Where are you right now?" Benjamin's voice came through the phone, his tone harsh. "Come back to the Fowler family immediately."